We all grew up as children (and some adults too ) with this fascination for superheroes and superpowers! The idea that there was some human who could do something extraordinary fascinated me! Although I should confess I changed my mind pretty soon and realised superheroes do live amongst us! Some in our very own house — for me, it was my mom!
She is a regular Indian middle class working mother like many others, but she managed to let me participate in almost every extra curricular activity at school and outside. From making my costumes for all the competitions , to learning to drape the Indian saree with all the jewelery for my every Bharatnatyam ( classical Indian dance ) recitals over my 13 years of training to forcing me to practise the violin and solfegio. She worked a 9- 5 job at a Bank (now retired) and yet made time to sit and teach me a book of 356 songs every evening and konkani songs too,from dropping and picking me at every dance, music and art class, summer camps or some competition, I came home after all of this to a yummy home cooked meal! I honestly dont know what my mother can “not” do!
I met more superheroes as I moved along in life — my favorite scrub nurse whose calming presence made me save so many babies in distress!! The neighbors who woke up at 3am to help transfer cash for my mother brain surgery !! The coworker who stood by me when I was persecuted through work and the patient who came to every chemotherapy session, smiling with the most amazing fish parceled for me! My childhood house help who got ahead in her life by working hard but still feel like family!
Todays Gospel, we get the description of a christian super hero,
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,
clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,
to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
Imagining us all with swords, helmets and breast plates and strutting the streets seems a little odd! But, it can be made easy and fashionable if we make an effort to think and act in accordance to the law of the Lord and not the land! A word of concern to the lonely, a helping hand to the troubles, a listening year to the depressed.. all stuff we read and hear all the time! But I believe , charity begins at home! So lets make an extra effort to wash the dishes when it is not our turn, or do the laundry or appreciate the food on the table and the cook! Listen to the family talking instead of being absorbed on social media and saying a family rosary with more fervor! Hello that grumpy neighbor and wave at that old co worker you try to avoid! Try ( extremely hard) to be more patient while driving and waiting our turn in a line!
It is hard!!! I have been biting my tongue to stop those nasty sarcastic replies and making an extra effort to hello people I would avoid! But that is exactly what He expects us to do! Go an extra mile today…be a superhero!!!!
PRAYER:
Dearest Lord, help me to persevere in my goal to be a better faith filled human in my daily life. Give me the patience to deal with events that will bring me distress and anxiety. Help me to be a better example of your love through my actions and words! Mama Mary guide me every day to spread your warmth and love to every human I meet! Praise be the Lord ! Amen.
